256 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
any of your friends would like to join, please telegraph to me 
early tomorrow, Thursday, for what amount I may put your 
name, and oblige.” 
Such an appeal coming from Cyrus Field aroused imme- 
diate response. Contributions ranging from five thousand 
dollars to a silver dime (given by a child) were sent to his 
office at 145 Broadway. A total of over three hundred sixty 
thousand dollars was raised. ‘This was invested in sound bonds 
and brought in an assured income. It helped to educate the 
children, one of whom, Harry A. Garfield, later became presi- 
dent of Williams College and organizer of the internationally- 
known Institute of Politics. After the death of Mrs. Garfield, 
the funds were divided among the five children. They always 
felt supremely grateful to Cyrus Field for his generous im- 
pulse. At this time, Field managed to get a bill through Con- 
gress to pay a pension of five thousand dollars to widows of 
ex-presidents; Mrs. Polk and Mrs. Grant benefited by this. 
Field himself was almost the victim of an act of malevolence 
in the following spring. A mail-carrier, riding on the Third 
Avenue elevated, stepped off the train and threw his mail- 
bag on the station platform. When the bag hit the platform, 
there was an explosion of a parcel inside. Examination showed 
that the burned remnants of the parcel were addressed to 
Field. A similar package in the bag was addressed to William 
H. Vanderbilt. 
After this exhibition of American gratitude, Field gave 
orders that all packages delivered to the house must be 
plunged into a tub of water. His daughter, Isabella Field 
Judson, reported that this order caused consternation among 
the young ladies of the household, who feared for their new 
spring gowns and Victorian finery. However, no other bombs 
were found, and the usual routine was resumed at Gramercy 
Park, which was now near the center of the city’s shopping 
district. Stores were moving uptown and eastward. Around 
